SAMDT 540 — To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to reinstating the fired Federal employees at the Forest Service, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management.

AMENDS

SCONRES 7 — An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

PASSED SENATE

AMENDMENT PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 3

Proposed

Considered

Disposed

Proposed
Considered
Disposed

DISPOSITION

FAILED

FEB 20, 2025

“Amendment SA 540 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 52. Record Vote Number: 68.”

what this changes

This amendment tried to create a special budget placeholder to help rehire federal employees who were fired from agencies like the National Park Service and the Forest Service. Because the amendment failed, this specific plan to fund their reinstatement was not added to the government's budget blueprint.

WHY IT MATTERS

Federal land management agencies oversee millions of acres of public land; this amendment was a step toward bringing back staff to those agencies. Without this budget rule, any future attempt to rehire these workers may face stricter spending hurdles.

WHO IS AFFECTED

This primarily affects former federal employees of the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management who were recently terminated.

AMENDS

SCONRES 7PASSED SENATE

An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL

KEY POINTS

low

Created a 'reserve fund'

This is a budget maneuver that allows Congress to spend money on a specific priority later as long as it doesn't increase the total national debt.

low

Targeted land management agencies

The focus was specifically on agencies that manage national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.

low

Amendment failed 48-52

The vote was close and fell mostly along party lines, preventing the provision from becoming part of the Senate's budget plan.

GLOSSARY

deficit-neutral reserve fund: A provision in a budget resolution that allows for future spending on a specific topic, provided that spending is balanced out by cuts elsewhere or new revenue.
budget resolution: An internal plan used by Congress to set spending limits; it does not have the force of law and is not signed by the President.

Official sources

SAMDT 540 on Congress.gov

This analysis used: Amendment purpose · Latest action · Amended bill: summary

ACTION TIMELINE

7 EVENTS

FEB 20, 25

Amendment SA 540 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 52. Record Vote Number: 68.

FLOOR

FEB 20, 25

Amendment SA 540 proposed by Senator Bennet. (consideration: CR S1103-1104) To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to reinstating the fired Federal employees at the Forest Service, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management.

FLOOR

FEB 20, 25

INTROREFERRAL

FEB 20, 25

Senate amendment proposed (on the floor): Amendment SA 540 proposed by Senator Bennet.

FLOOR

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To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to reinstating the fired Federal employees at the Forest Service, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management.

AMENDS

SUMMARY

KEY POINTS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

AMENDMENT INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to reinstating the fired Federal employees at the Forest Service, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management.

AMENDS

AMENDMENT PROGRESS